ntarily!" declared the older man,
glancing around as though to give his words a double meaning. "What
was your hunch, and how did it come to lead you here?"

Whereupon Stoddard told him, swiftly, for there was no time to lose.

* * * * *

When first assigned to the case, he said, he had been as baffled as
anyone. But as he had studied the problem, one outstanding fact had
given him the clue. All the gem experts agreed that the mysterious
flood of smuggled stones was of Indian origin, being of the first
water and of remarkable fire--in other words, of the finest
transparency and brilliance.

Therefore, since they were genuine and were seemingly coming from
India, Stoddard had concentrated his attention on this country,
seeking their exact source. Investigation showed that there were no
mines within its borders capable of producing anything like the
quantity that was inundating the market.

But--and here was where the hunch came in--there was a district in the
Sikkim Himalayas of Bengal whose capital was Darjeeling--Land of the
Diamond Thunderbolt. Why had it been called that? Was there some
legend back of it?

There was, he had learned. For though in modern times the phrase had
come to apply merely to the Lama's scepter, as Professor Prescott had
pointed out, originally it had carried another meaning--for legend
said that once a diamond meteor had fallen on the mighty slopes of
Kinchinjunga.

That had been enough for Stoddard. He had followed his hunch, had got
himself attached to the American Kinchinjunga expedition--

"And that's why I'm here, and all about it," he finished. "Now, then,
are you coming back with me and have a look at my Diamond Thunderbolt,
or am I going back alone?"

A long moment the professor debated, before replying.

"Yes, I'll come with you," he said at length, extending his hand.
"Forgive me, Jack. I didn't know, or--"

"Forget it," said Stoddard shaking. "How the devil could you, till I
told you? But just one thing. Mum's the word--right?"

"Right!"

"And one thing more. It may be--well, a one-way trip."

"Forget it."

"O. K., Professor."

With a last warm handclasp, leaving them joined in a new bond of
friendship, the two men moved on over that narrow, moonlit ridge
across the top of the world.

* * * * *

It was a desperate trail, Professor Prescott realized after scarcely a
dozen steps. The ridge grew narro